Folding chair



Sept. 24, 1929. W.' H. TOMLINSON 1,729,141

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Jan. 24, 1929 v {a glvwenfoz IM Egg/14' J04.

Patented Sept. 24, 1929 WILLIAM H. TOMLINSON, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN FOLDING CHAIR Application filed January 24, 1929. Serial No. 334,685.

This invention relates to improvements. in foldable chairs and more particularly to a foldable metal chair.

The prime object of the invention is to design a foldable metal chair which can be read ily and compactly folded, and which can be quickly and easily set up for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal chair which when set up for use, will have all the characteristics and ap pearance of the conventional non-foldable chairs, and which will be rigid and solid when in open position.

A further object is to design a metal chair which can be formed of stampiugs, which will be of rigid and substantial construction, and which will be economical to manufacture and assemble.

A still further object is to provide a foldable chair of simple and practical construction, which is automatically locked in open position when the chair is occupied and simultaneously folded when the seat is swung upwardly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the V spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing: a

Fig. 1 is a side View showing my improved metal chair in open position.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side View illustrating the chair folded.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the seat taken just ahead of the a front legs.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional longitudinal view through the seat illustrating the stops for limiting the outward movement of the front legs.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the front legs, stop and track engaging member.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary edge view of a section of track.

Referring now particularly to the drawing in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the chair comprises spaced apart front and rear'legs 5 and 6 respectively, the rear legs extending upwardly and being secured together by means of transversely disposed brace members 8 and 9, and vertical disposed slat members 9 connect the members 7 and 8, and form the one part back and leg frame of the chair, a pair of transversely disposed rung members 10 and 11 span the front legs 5, and are securelyriveted or welded in position, identically similar transversely disposed members 12 and 13 span the rear legs, and are secured in the same .rear legs by the pin 17, so that theseat may be swung upward to folded position as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Crossed braces 18 are connected to the inner sides of the front and rear legs at 19 and 20 and as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawone end of each brace being slotted as shown at 21, to permit the front legs to fold tightly against the rear legs w is folded.

en the chair A U-shaped track 22 is welded or riveted to the inner edge ofthe lip 15 on both sides of the seat, and a transversely disposed rod 23 spans the front legs, and the ends of the rod projecting slightly beyond the edges of legs and into thev track 22, the upper edge at the outer end of said track being slightly rounded as shown at 24, so that when the chair is in open position theends of the rod will nest therein.

Spaced apart slips 25 are welded to the under side of the seat and serve to limit the outward movement of the front le wardly depending portion 26 as shown.

s, the downeing shaped Jon When it is desired to fold the chair for storage or transportation, the seat is swung upwardly, in the direction'as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the ends of the rod 23 traveling in the tracks 15, the upward pull of the seat causing the crossed braces 18 to automatically fold, thereby forcing the front leg frame rearwardly to fold tightly against the rear legs, and the scat proper tightly against the back.

I wish to direct particular attention to the fact that when the chair is in use and occupied, that the ends of the rod 23'will nest in the formed portion 24 of the tracks, and the clips 25 will also assist in holding the front legs against displacement so that the chair can be tilted or otherwise shifted by the occupant without injury or detriment thereto.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a very substantial and neat appearing foldable chair.

What I claim is:

1. A foldable chair comprising a rigid one part back and leg frame, a seat pivotally connected thereto, a front leg frame slidably connected to the seat frame, and lazy tongs connecting said back frame and front leg frame .to permit the front leg frame to fold against the back leg frame when the seat is swung upwardly.

2. A folding chair comprising a rigid one part back and leg frame, a seat pivotally connected thereto and provided with tracks, a front leg frame slidably mounted in said tracks, lazy tongs connecting the back frame .and front leg frame, and stops on said' seat for limiting the outward movement .of said front leg frame.

. v3. A folding chair comprising a one part back and leg frame, a one part front leg frame, lazy tongs connecting said front and back leg frames, a seat pivotally connected to the back frame, and provided with tracks on the sides thereof, a transversely disposed rod mounted in said front leg frame and riding in said tracks, and stops secured to the underside of the seat for limiting the outward travel of said front leg frame.

4. A foldable chair comprising a one part back and leg frame, a one part front leg frame, lazy tongs connecting said back and front leg frame, a seat pivotally connected to the back frame, U-shaped tracks secured to the sides of said seat, the outer ends of which are shaped to form a seat, means mounted in said front leg frame and projecting there from to slidably engage said tracks, and stops adapted to engage said frontleg frame when the chair is .in open position.

In testimony whereof I- hereunto aflix my signature. 1

WILLIAM H. TOMLINSON. 

